League play brings hope

The holidays are out of the way and a new year is upon us. But now that December is in the rear-view mirror and January is in full effect, that means it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of league play.

It’s a time for area girls’ basketball teams to show what they’re made of as they chase down the banner.

Here’s a look at how things are shaping up:

Brethren Christian

Coach: Jeff Wallace

Key returners: Stacey Helfer (Sr.); Rebekah Rudd (Jr.); Kendall McDonald (Sr.); Madison Desler (Jr.); Megan Hammond (Sr.)

Key newcomers: Sara Hodges (Fr.); Kirsten Sakata (Jr.)

Outlook: The Lions (6-6) return all five starters, including first-team Academy League selection Helfer. They won the consolation bracket at the Head-Royce Tournament in the Bay Area recently. Wallace said he thinks league will be a two-team race between Brethren Christian and St. Margaret’s. The teams play at 6 tonight at Liberty Christian, Brethren’s “home” gym for the year.

“We are in-between gyms this year as a result of the non-renewal of the lease at our long-standing facility in Cypress and the delays experienced in getting the new on-campus facility built in time for the season,” Wallace said. “As a result, our motto has become: ‘Have game. Will travel.’ ”

Edison

Coach: Dan Wiley (second year)

Key returners: Bonnie Samuelson (Jr.); Christina Marquette (Jr.)

Key newcomers: Karlie Samuelson (Fr.)

Outlook: Bonnie Samuelson, a forward averaging nearly 30 points per game, is clearly one of the top players in the county. A deadly long-range shooter, she was co-Sunset League MVP and All-CIF a year ago. Yet with Marquette’s outside shooting, the explosive play of freshman point guard Karlie Samuelson and steady contributions by sophomores Rilee Horton and Lauren Grego, the Chargers as a whole are dangerous, despite no senior starters.

Edison (10-4) went undefeated in league a year ago en route to the CIF title game, and a repeat performance could be in store. The Chargers did well at the Tournament of Champions in Arizona and won the consolation title at the Orange County Championships.

“We’ve got three really good scorers on the perimeter,” Wiley said. “We’re starting to come around now but Sunset League is always tough.”

Fountain Valley

Coach: Saki Takemoto (third year)

Outlook: The Barons have been playing well early in the season, as they topped Ocean View, 53-28, on Saturday to improve to 6-8.

Sunset League play, where the Barons were 3-7 a year ago, might be tougher. Fountain Valley has no returning all-league players. The Barons open league at Newport Harbor on Thursday.

Huntington Beach

Coach: Russell McClurg (seventh year)

Key returners: Meghan White (Sr.); Maya Kennedy (So.); Kelsey Minato (So.)

Key newcomers: Amber Page (Sr.); Sasha Mancisidor (Jr.); Jill Nakaso (Fr.); Malia Viloria (Fr.).

Outlook: The Oilers (11-3) return just four players, including White, a center who is averaging a double-double and was second-team all-league last year. So was Minato. But the Oilers are already having a strong season, as they are ranked ninth in the county and won the Costa Mesa Winter Classic last week. Minato was tournament MVP, scoring 27 points in the final.

Huntington Beach opens league Friday at home against Northwood.

“Sea View League should be real tough,” McClurg said. “Woodbridge was the CIF champs last year and return everyone from that team. I know the girls are very excited about the opportunity and look forward to the challenge. I expect the girls will be in the hunt for the playoffs. I have a great group of girls and so far they have overachieved in many areas.”

Marina

Coach: Butch Fredlow (11th year)

Outlook: The Vikings (7-9) opened Sunset League action at Esperanza on Thursday. They have been dealing with the loss to graduation of co-league MVP Rita Sitivi, now at Utah. But Marina does have an experienced coach and senior Renee Lindquist was a first-team all-league honoree a year ago.

Marina was clearly one of the best teams in the league behind Edison last year and would love to surprise the Chargers this year. The teams first meet at Marina on Tuesday.

Ocean View

Coach: Kim Morris (second year)

Outlook: The Seahawks (4-10) advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs a season ago. But they have had to adjust to the graduation of the league MVP Rachel Sweezy, although they do bring back a second-team honoree in Hannah Ferguson, now a sophomore.

Ocean View has nonleague games this week against Capo Valley and La Quinta and opens up Golden West League play by hosting Westminster on Tuesday.